Bahamas West End

[Karl]

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I'm planning on cruising to the Abacos in the Bahamas the first week of June and because my boat is slow, I would like to stay overnight anchored or moored in West End of the Grand Bahamas. My Explorer Chart book says that there are some anchorages, but they don't have good holding and are in shallow water. The Old Bahamas Bay Marina is very expensive, so I'm wondering if anyone knows about moorings where the marina is.

When I Google the area for moorings I get a response that says there are 75 moorings and slips, but I can't find anything specific about the moorings and if they really exist. Does anyone have any information about this that they could share?

Thanks, Karl

 

[Freestyle]

I have never found any place on West End to anchor or moor and I am too cheap for the marina although that is pretty dumb on my part.

As an alternative, I tie up at Xanadu on the south side. It is ridiculously cheap and then take the Grand Lucaya canal through the island and head for Great Sale the next night.

Just a thought

Bruce

Freestyle
1976 43 DCMY
Tampa

 

[hibanx]

To my knowledge there are no moorings near West End. If the weather is settled there are a couple of alternative anchorages. if you draw 5' or less you can anchor on the NW side of Sandy Cay which is a couple of miles N. of West End. You have to cross onto the bank well North of Sandy Cay and approach from the NNW to avoid the sand bank that lies to the west of the island. If you are crossing from points North, Great Issac makes a decent overnight anchorage in settled weather, the holding is fair but I would not want to be there in a blow. If you continue east onto the banks, you can anchor anywhre around Great Sale Cay. It provides good protection from any direction, just anchor in the lee. In very settled weather you can just drop the hook anywhere on the bank (outside of the well traveled rhumb lines crossing the bank). I have done this more than once. It's actually really pleasant, no worries about dragging anchor because there is nothing to hit. Good luck.

 

[solanderi]

A Quick Question RE: Lucayan Waterway

Has anyone recently traversed this waterway ? What is the max draft that can safely use this passage ? What about bridge clearance ? Thank you for any help.

Greg

 

[pmurphy]

You can also consider Mangrove Cay if you can make it that far. It's about 25 miles from West End on your way to the Abacos. I've anchored there a number of times.

 

[mike]

A Quick Question RE: Lucayan Waterway

Has anyone recently traversed this waterway ? What is the max draft that can safely use this passage ? What about bridge clearance ? Thank you for any help.

Greg

FWIW, not recently; did it back in '02 in our 53MY (~ 4’ draft) going from the south to the north. The bridge vertical clearance was not an issue 27 ½’ vertical clearance, however bridge width can be a problem. It was very narrow, the current can be swift, because you want to be going through so you are on a rising tide for what little there is (the tide lag in the north is ~2 hours after the tide on the south side of Grand Bahama). If you plan it right you’ll have a reasonable current on your stern so control can be a problem at the bridge. The northern cut leaving the channel has a controlling depth of 3-3 ½’ MLW, while the Lucayan Waterway itself was ~ 6-12’ deep, also it's shallow throughout the passage you may want to limit your speed to avoid digging a hole and hitting bottom. Once past the bridge, the northern side can be a problem, the channel is very shallow and narrow, and was not marked well (poles only) esp as you are leaving the cut. Advise you get a local chart that's updated. I used the “Cruising Guide to Abaco Bahamas” published by White Sound Press, I believe it’s printed yearly. Have fun it’s a great adventure esp after you’ve made the crossing with out hitting bottom. ;-)

 

[solanderi]

Thank you for the "come-back".

I guess thats a No-Go for me. My 45C has a 4'6" draft and without dropping outriggers or antennaes approx 33 feet overhead clearance. Thats why I asked. See you later, but not there.

Greg

 

[fissioneng]

A Quick Question RE: Lucayan Waterway

Has anyone recently traversed this waterway ? What is the max draft that can safely use this passage ? What about bridge clearance ? Thank you for any help.

Dan Mapes spent the winter in the Abacos and just came back. He went through the canal and posted some pics. You can see where he went and the pics at:

http://danmapes.blogspot.com/2009/11/and-just-like-that.html

http://danmapes.blogspot.com/